Museums in Lima City

Museo Nacional de Antropologia Arqueologia e Historia (National Anthropology Archeology and History Museum)

Founded by Julio C. Tello in 1938; exhibition of the biggest historical collection in Peru, more than 100 thousand pieces, from all the Peruvian cultures, ordered in didactic and chronological way. The collections are composed of ceramics, textiles, stone, organic, metallic, human remains belonging to pre-Hispanic times, objects corresponding to the colonial and republican periods, graphic and digital documentation and books with scientific and cultural value, related thereto.

It integrates the entire Peruvian archeological and historical process and houses one of the most complete pre-Colombian collections of ceramics, textiles, and fine metal works with pieces from the Chavín, Paracas, Nazca, Mochica, Tiahuanaco, Pucará, Chimú, Chachapoyas, and Inca cultures. There are also rooms and galleries that exhibit Colonial and Republican pieces: an art gallery with canvasses from the Cusco School, a complete collection of portraits of the Viceroys, iconography of the liberators and other illustrious people, and portraits of presidents and figures of Peruvian history.

Located in the same plaza is the house that was residence of the Viceroys Pezuela and La Serna and the Liberators José de San Martín and Simón Bolívar. Are exhibited collection of paintings, objects, documents and relics corresponding to the Viceroyalty, Emancipation, Independence and Republican Eras.

Location: Plaza Bolívar, Pueblo Libre
Visiting Hours: Tue-Sat 9:00 to 17:00. Sun & holidays 9:00 to 16:00
Admission Fee

Museo Larco

Located in a unique vice-royal mansion of the 18th century built over a 7th century pre-Columbian pyramid, is surrounded by beautiful gardens that won the price for best gardens in Peru in January 2009. The main idea of Rafael Larco Hoyle, the archeologist founder of the Larco Museum in 1926, was to share his passion for pre-Columbian art and its development until the Spanish arrival. This passion makes him investigate through all his life (1901 – 1967) and to discovery important societies such as the Lambayeque, Salinar, Virú and the Mochica. Its masterpieces are considered worldwide icons of Pre-Columbian art, after being exhibited in the world's leading museums.

The Cultures Gallery provides a clear and captivating narrative account of more than 5000 years of pre-Columbian Peruvian history. It is complemented by an exhibition composed of an exclusive selection of delicate and sophisticated mantles and woven clothing made more than 2500 years ago, in the Textile Room. The Sacrifice Ceremony Room and Erotic Ceramics Gallery bring us closer to fascinating rituals expressing the intimate relationship that pre-Columbian societies had with nature. The richness and splendor of the pre-Columbian past are reflected in each one of the objects in the Gold and Jewelry Gallery.

Location: Avenida Bolívar N° 1515, Pueblo Libre
Visiting Hours: From 9:00 to 18:00 everyday, including holidays.
Admission Fee - www.museolarco.org

Museo de Oro del Perú (Gold of Peru Museum)

This private collection contains a staggering display of pre-Hispanic gold, Paracas textiles, and ceramics. There's also an excellent bookshop, and large display of military objects connected with important people from world history. Audio Guide Service Multilingual: French / English / German / Spanish.

The Gold of Peru and Arms of the World Museums were founded by Miguel Mujica Gallo in 1968. Between both museums, 25,000 objects are on exhibition.

The Gold of Peru Museum holds the most important pieces in gold, silver and gilded copper from a number of Peru's different pre-Columbian cultures, including Lambayeque, Chimú, Mochica, Nazca, Frias, Huari, Vicus and Inca Culture.

The showcases of the "Gold Museum of Peru" display the craftsmanship of several centuries of Peruvian history, mainly in pre-Inca gold. There are decorative items of all the cultures, such as, embossed and weaved nose ornaments with cut stone pendants; sets of filigree figures depicting birds, men, or monkeys; mantles, bracelets and earflaps of the Vicus culture; lizards, weasels, felines, bags of coca leaves, earrings and belts of the Frias culture; pectorals with zoomorphic designs, flat or embossed crowns of the Chancay culture; funerary masks with twisted rays or serpents from Ica; and masks with open mouths and teeth, wristbands, shin protectors and spatulas of the Nazca culture.

Location: Alonso de Molina N° 1100, Monterrico, Santiago de Surco
Visiting Hours: Monday to Friday of 9:00 to 19:00
Admission Fee - www.museoroperu.com.pe

Museo del Congreso y Antiguo Tribunal de la Inquisición (Museum of the Inquisition and the Congress)

It is home to numerous artifacts, as well as rooms in which the Inquisition process took place. Among these is the Courtroom, where members of the Court of the Inquisition met. Interesting features include the “Secret Door”, which led to the private chambers of the Grand Inquisitor; the Torture Chamber; the area of the secret dungeons with underground cells; and the Inquisition Library. Toward the front, occupying the space where the Caridad (Charity) church and monastery (16th century) previously stood, is the Congressional Palace of the Republic, built in the neoclassical style between 1912 and 1916 and which holds an extensive library.

Location: Jirón Junín N° 548. - Historical Centre of Lima.
Visiting Hours: Mon - Sun 9.00 - 17:00.
Free admission.

Museo de Arte de Lima (Lima Art Museum)

Installed in the former Exhibition Palace (1869). Ceramic items, textiles and precious metalwork from pre-Hispanic cultures are exhibited here. It also houses the largest collection of Peruvian painting and art. Visiting Hours: Tue - Sun 10.00- 20:00 pm and Sat 10:00 17:00. Location: Paseo Colón N° 125 - Historical Centre of Lima.

Museo de Arte Italiano (Italian Art Museum)

Founded in 1921, building with the Florentine renascence architecture. Designed by the Milan Architect Gaetano Moretti. Donated by the Italian colony in Peru when being commemorated the centennial of the Independence of Peru. The Italian Renaissance facade is worked in white marble with the coats of arms of the main Italian cities and two mosaic panels with notable historical figures. Permanent exhibitions show art works from Italy with elements of Bramante architecture and decorative details inspired by Donatello, Ghiberti, Michelangelo, and Botticcelli.

Location: Paseo de la República N° 250 - Historical Centre of Lima
Visiting Hours: Mon. – Fri. 10:00 - 17:00.

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